Cancer Council Victoria today called on all Victorian political
parties to commit to taking action to address the increasing incidence of liver
cancer, which is amongst the fastest growing cancers in Victoria. Survival from
liver cancer remains amongst the poorest, with just 14% of Victorians surviving
five years after a diagnosis.
According to Chris Enright,
Manager of Priority Populations at Cancer Council Victoria, the leading cause
of liver cancer is chronic hepatitis B infection, a vaccine preventable,
treatable infection.
"Recently, the Federal Government
launched its second National Hepatitis B Strategy to address this serious
health issue."
"Now we need the Victorian Government to invest in the three priority
action areas to reduce the rate of liver cancer attributable to hepatitis B
infection. The commitment the government has shown so far is a step in the
right direction but we urgently need support to increase health literacy, build
capacity in primary care and strengthen the evidence base to guide our work in
the sector."
"Health
literacy is particularly vital to improving the understanding of the importance
of hepatitis B vaccination and treatment for those most at risk is an important
step in preventing liver cancer."
According to Ms Enright,
the link
between hepatitis B infection and potential subsequent liver cancer is widely
unknown within affected communities. Primary health care clinicians are a vital
means of raising patient awareness.
"Building capacity within the primary health sector to increase clinical knowledge and enable more
patients to be appropriately managed by their GP can ensure timely diagnosis
and appropriate treatment of chronic hepatitis B infections. This has the
potential to significantly reduce the number of people diagnosed with liver
cancer and will also have a flow on affect, reducing waiting times for liver
clinics."
"The last priority action area is funding for research into both the
clinical and social impacts of hepatitis B related liver cancer, as this can be
effectively applied to support the development of evidence-based policy. As
with the other priority action areas, this will require long term, ongoing
commitment from government."
Hepatitis and liver
cancer: a summary
- Deaths from liver cancer
are set to double over next decade
- Liver cancer has jumped
three spots in three years to become Australia's ninth most fatal cancer –
around 1,400 Australians die from liver cancer each year
- There are an estimated
218,000 people living in Australia with chronic hepatitis B
- Almost half of people with
hepatitis B aren't aware they have it
- Only 20% of those with
hepatitis B who require treatment currently receive it
- Only 10% of liver cancer
cases are linked to heavy alcohol use
- Liver cancer is one of the
most deadly: 85–90% don't survive beyond five years after diagnosis